H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK addressed the Third Arab Forum on Tourism Statistics, held in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq, on 21-23 September 2025.

The opening session of the Forum also featured remarks from H.E. Prof. Dr. Ahmed Fakkak AL-BADRANI, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Antiquities of the Republic of Iraq, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim AL-MALIKI, Assistant Secretary General and Head of the Economic Affairs Sector of LAS, as well as Dr. Dhyaa Awad KADHUM, Chairman of Authority of Statistics and Geographic Information System (GIS) of Iraq.

In her remarks, H.E. SELÇUK highlighted the vast potential of Islamic Tourism in the OIC countries, noting that the international tourist arrivals reached 272 million in 2024, accounting for 18% of global arrivals, generating 279 billion USD as tourism receipts in OIC countries accounting for 18% of global receipts. She stressed the need for robust data systems to transform data into development and also shared insights on the Strategic Roadmap for the Development of Islamic Tourism, a strategic document prepared by SESRIC in 2018, emphasizing the necessity to focus on common standards, quality control, and monitoring.

Furthermore, SESRIC delivered a presentation titled “SESRIC’s Efforts in the Domain of Tourism” highlighting the Centre’s work in this important sector through its technical reports, strategic documents, existing indicators and capacity building activities throughout the years. The presentations also discussed some challenges faced by the OIC countries in advancing Islamic Tourism as well as the potential of this niche market and its positive impact on the economy.

The Third Arab Forum on Tourism Statistics was organised by the League of Arab States, in collaboration with the Iraq Tourism Authority, under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Antiquities of the Republic of Iraq, as well as the Authority of Statistics and Geographic Information System (GIS), under the Ministry of Planning of the Republic of Iraq, and other specialised international organisations. The Forum coincided with Baghdad’s designation as the 2025 Arab Capital of Tourism by the Arab Tourism Organization, which is considered a crucial step in enhancing Iraq’s position on the Arab and international tourism map.

The forum’s agenda emphasized the challenges and future visions for tourism statistics, with a focus on exchanging international experiences to develop the tourism sector in Iraq and the wider region. Key topics included the Arab strategy for tourism development, sustainable tourism, global tourism trends, and the role of digital transformation and media in the industry.

The three-day event concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony as an appreciation for the efforts of all speakers and delegations in enriching the discussions and for their commitment in enhancing tourism sector in their esteemed countries.

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